The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has secured an arrest warrant to extradite former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United Kingdom.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC acting spokesman, in a press statement, said Alison-Madueke is not yet off the hook of the agency as she is set to face 13-count charges bordering on money laundering in Nigeria.
Oyewale said the money laundering charges for which Alison-Madueke is answerable to the EFCC, cover jurisdictions in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Nigeria.
“The EFCC welcomes, with keen interest, the arraignment of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, at the Westminister’s Court in London, United Kingdom, following alleged bribery allegations.
“Although the charges preferred against her at the London court are diametrically different from the 13-count charges bordering on money laundering the EFCC has raised against her, it is instructive to note that criminality is criminality, irrespective of jurisdictional differences. No crime can go unpunished.
“The money laundering charges for which Madueke is answerable to the EFCC, cover jurisdictions in Dubai, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Nigeria.
“To bring the former minister to trial in Nigeria, an arrest warrant has been obtained and extradition proceedings have been initiated. The Commission is on course on her trial. She will soon have her day in our courts.”
Alison-Madueke is the second high-profile Nigerian politician to face prosecution in Britain in recent years after she appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court.
She was charged with receiving bribes in the form of cash, luxury goods, flights on private jets and the use of high-end properties in Britain in return for awarding oil contracts.
Madueke served as Petroleum Minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015.
She was granted £70,000 bail and further imposed other terms on the former minister including an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, an electronic tag to be worn by her at all times and a £70,000 surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.
Her next court appearance is at Southwark Crown Court on October 30.
